Shepherd Primary

What Ofsted said

From the inspection on 27 June 2023

Pupils like being part of a school where everyone knows each other. They make some good friendships in their time here. They enjoy practical work in science, looking at artefacts in history, playing percussion instruments in music and using the hall equipment in physical education lessons. Children in the early years relish the extensive outdoor learning area. Pupils talk positively about having trips and visitors into school to bring learning to life. Pupils enjoy the range of subjects they study. They are clear as to what teachers expect from them in lessons. Pupils take pride in their work and want to do their best. They are keen to earn house points. Pupils participate in a range of extra-curricular clubs. These include football for boys and girls, cookery, and arts and crafts. Pupils are starting to take on more leadership roles, such as caring for the environment. Pupils usually cooperate well. They know the school rules. They have trusted adults to talk to if they have concerns about bullying. Pupils do believe that most adults sort out problems and that pupils feel safe. However, some pupils report that not all adults follow up behaviour incidents in the same way.

What the school should improve

• In a few subjects, leaders are refining their curriculum programmes to include more information about the specific knowledge that pupils need to know. Currently, pupils are not yet fully secure in their detailed understanding of the most important knowledge that leaders want them to learn. Leaders need to explicitly signpost for teachers the most important knowledge they want pupils to remember and in what depth in these few subjects. Leaders must check that pupils can then successfully recall the detailed knowledge they have learned.
• A few older pupils who have not had the full benefit of the new phonics scheme still have gaps in their reading ability. This means they are not catching up quickly enough with their reading. Leaders should ensure that adults have specific training on how to support these pupils so that they quickly become fluent and confident readers for their age.
• On some occasions, adults are not applying the behaviour policy consistently. This results in some pupils and parents feeling that behaviour concerns are not always being addressed. Leaders must ensure that staff have the required training to know how to respond to concerns confidently and consistently according to school procedures. Leaders, including governors, then need to check that this happens.

Read the full Ofsted report (opens in a new tab)